A comprehensive suite of simulators and training devices from CAE for CH-147F Chinook helicopters are ready for use by the Canadian military.

The approval for usage by the Royal Canadian Air Force follows on-site acceptance testing at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, Ontario, CAE said in a news announcement.

"The Royal Canadian Air Force is putting into service the world's most advanced Chinook helicopter synthetic training facility, and CAE is proud to be playing a key role in delivering a complete ground-based training solution to the RCAF," said Mike Greenley, vice president and general manager of CAE Canada, Defense & Security. "The RCAF has set out an ambitious strategy regarding the use of simulation-based training to cost-effectively prepare its aircrews to maintain readiness, and training facilities like the MHLH at Petawawa will help the RCAF achieve its vision."

The CAE training systems include the CH-147F WST, a full-motion, full-mission simulator featuring a six-degree-of-freedom motion system, 3-DOF vibration platform, 200-x-60 degree field-of-view visual display system, and CAE's Medallion-6000 image generator with common database architecture; a CH-147F tactical flight training device, which is a fixed-based simulator featuring a 200-x-60 degree field-of-view visual display system and CAE Medallion-6000 visual system with CDB architecture; a CH-147F deployable tactical flight training device, which can be transported in-theatre to provide pre-deployment training and mission rehearsal; and an integrated gunnery trainer.

CAE said the RCAF has begun interim pilot training using the CH-147F weapon systems trainer. With the RCAF, CAE are currently finalizing other elements of the comprehensive CH-147F aircrew training program, including courseware, and expect the entire CH-147F training program to be declared ready for training later this year.